Spring 2019 Piano Pieces

I've been slow to put this post together because the point of "completion" for these piano pieces was pretty drawn out between the three kids, and I recorded them each multiple times so I needed to go back and decide which videos to use.

Eliza was ready first, doing a great job at the solo festival at the beginning of February and the recital in mid-February.  Her challenge after that was to keep playing her pieces well during her practice sessions so that she could perform them at our little recital at Oma's in April.  She learned "Ride, Ride" by Kabalevsky and "The March of the Three Kings."  (no video).

Cat didn't work as hard as she could have to prepare her pieces during the months she was learning them, and a basketball-induced jammed finger didn't help at all.  But she buckled down and worked really hard 1-2 weeks before the festival and ended up playing pretty well.  Unfortunately, another jammed finger just before the recital kept her from performing there.  Once she recovered from that, she worked on the pieces some more in order to perform them at Oma's, and the residents loved her performance.  The whole experience was a great lesson in 1) the importance of working hard when you have the chance and 2) finding out what you're capable of by really pushing yourself.

Jack also didn't work as hard as he could have on his two pieces.  When it came time for the festival, one was pretty good but the other was only partially learned.  Eleven days later he was able to play the entire second piece at the recital, but it wasn't solid.  By the time Oma's recital rolled around, Jack knew it really well and he did a good job on his performance.  His pieces were "Tarantella" by Prokofiev (which Cat played several years ago) and "Carnival" by Couperin (no video).